"The mine area is divided into three main zones: the mining zone, the abandoned zone, and the collapsed zone," Ren spoke up as the three of them gathered beside the quest board.
His voice was not loud, but there was a certainty that made Yuna and Nautilus turn to him simultaneously.
"The mining zone is the most accessible," Ren continued, looking directly at his companions. "It mainly contains common mineral veins like copper, iron, and occasionally coal. This is the safest zone among the three, ideal for gathering and completing basic tasks."
He paused for a moment, his expression becoming more serious as he moved on to the next part.
"The abandoned zone, where the Kobolds and Cave Bats gather. Both are stronger than the monsters in the grasslands, with an average level of 4 to 5. They move in small groups and tend to ambush near better mineral veins."
Nautilus furrowed his brow, arms crossed, a glimmer of surprise in his eyes. "Wait... did you ask someone about this? How could you know so much?"
Yuna also widened her eyes, tilting her head slightly. "I thought you were just starting to gather information... the way you're talking, it's like you've already been down there."
Ren shrugged lightly, but there was a subtle hint of pride in his gaze. "I got lucky. Someone shared it with me. I just compiled what they told me. Anyway, it's best to know exactly what you're getting into."
The atmosphere among the three of them became clearer, as if the vague pieces were slowly coming together to form a concrete picture.
And for the first time since the morning, they had the sense that... they were truly preparing for something bigger.
Nautilus' shoulders sagged slightly, and he leaned against the rough stone wall, letting out a long, heavy sigh. "I wish I were as lucky as you."
His voice wasn't envious, but there was a clear exhaustion, a sense of disappointment after trying and getting nothing in return.
After a few seconds of silence, Nautilus glanced at Ren and Yuna, his gaze tinged with awkwardness. "I... couldn't get a single piece of useful information."
"The NPCs I asked just repeated quest-related lines, as if they didn't care who was standing in front of them."
He scoffed, then shook his head lightly. "And the players there... honestly, they made me uncomfortable. Cold, rude, and didn't bother answering any questions."
As if fearing he would be seen as too sensitive, Nautilus quickly added, his voice a little softer, "I don't think they meant to be rude. Maybe they were just busy. Or... maybe I just don't know how to start a conversation at the right time."
He lowered his head, his hands clenched in front of his chest as if trying to hide his disappointment. A fleeting moment of vulnerability surfaced, making the air between the three of them grow heavier.
"Actually... I feel the same," Yuna murmured, her voice quiet. She avoided eye contact with both of them, her fingers unconsciously tightening around the notebook at her side, as if blaming herself.
"I thought everything at the market would go smoothly... but in the end, I didn't get anything worthwhile."
She hesitated for a moment, then continued, her voice softer. "Most of the players didn't want to share the maps they had. And the ones willing to sell..."
Yuna shrugged, letting out a soft sigh. "...they set prices that were really unreasonable. It was like they were testing how desperate I was."
Her face flushed slightly with embarrassment, her gaze still fixed on the ground. "Sorry... I thought I'd be able to help, but..."
Ren let out a quiet sigh, shaking his head lightly, then broke the heavy atmosphere. "It's okay. You all tried your best. Now let's go, we'll start with the mining zone quest."
He paused for a beat before continuing, his voice holding a slight hesitation. "Actually... escort or protection quests for the miners don't require detailed maps. We can go with them, do the quest, and gradually expand our map of the area."
Nautilus tilted his head slightly, a look of confusion crossing his face. "Wait, didn't you say the mining zone is the safest?"
Ren gave a small nod at Nautilus' question, but his eyes remained fixed on the path leading out of the village, where the distant mountains loomed faintly behind the rough wooden gate, opening into the mine area.
"'Safe'... is relative," he replied, his voice low and tinged with thoughtfulness. "Compared to the other zones, that one has more traffic. At least, if something happens, we won't be left alone."
He turned back to face his two companions. In his calm gaze, there was something both resolute and cautious.
"The Kobolds and Cave Bats may not surpass our level, but with just a little carelessness, they could take our lives. If we go with the miners, at least we can learn the route and avoid unnecessary danger."
Ren smiled faintly, gently enough to soothe. "This is just the beginning. There's no rush. We don't need to dive straight into the darkest places. As long as we stay in sync, get used to the mine's rhythm... that's already a start."
Nautilus nodded slowly, as if letting each word sink in.
As for Yuna, after a brief moment of silence, she gently tightened her grip on the small notebook at her side. When she looked up, the uncertainty in her eyes had been replaced with something stronger, a gentle resolve.
"The people who taught me said... this quest is the most suitable choice for a starting step." Ren said quietly, then reached for his personal system interface.
With a few swift motions, he tapped on the quest section, and a semi-transparent interface appeared before them. "Here," he continued, his voice steady but undeniably certain.
A symbol glowed in the air, quickly shared with the other two.
"They say this mining crew has a fixed route, mostly working in open areas with few narrow paths," Ren explained, his eyes still glued to the interface. "They occasionally run into some cave bats, but it's not really dangerous."
He briefly glanced at the reward section, lips pressed lightly as if confirming once again.
"And the reward is decent. Not much, but for newbies like us, 200 cor and a bit of experience are more than enough to get started."
As the three of them crossed the stone-paved trail, a crude wooden gate leading to the mine slowly came into view under the bright midday sun.
The soft sounds of wooden wheels clattering, metal clinking together, and the sight of carts carrying tools, shovels, picks, and stacked wooden barrels evoked a rustic, everyday feel, yet full of life.
A group of NPC miners was already standing near the gate, their shoulders carrying heavy sacks, sweat soaking through their shirts, but their eyes were calm, as if facing the darkness ahead was just another familiar part of their day.
Ren stepped forward, opened the interface, and confirmed the quest. A soft bell rang, and a faint notification appeared before all three of them.
Beside them, the NPCs nodded in unison, silently turning to invite them into the group, no words necessary.
The atmosphere before them gradually changed. The laughter and chatter outside faded away, replaced by the solemn silence of the tunnel leading underground. The scent of earth and stone, the musty smell, and the cold air typical of a mine began to fill their breaths.
Ren glanced at Yuna and Nautilus. Without saying anything, just a slight nod—steady and assured—was enough.
"Let's go."
The three of them passed through the old gate, officially stepping into the waiting darkness.
A place where every step... could be a discovery.
Or... a silent warning from the world itself.
...
Entering the mine for the first time, their feelings weren't quite what they had imagined for a dark and damp place.
The entrance was spacious, the air much fresher than they expected, with crystal lamps installed along both sides of the path, emitting a gentle light that brought an unexpectedly warm feeling.
Still, the atmosphere remained chaotic, from the thick wooden beams spanning the width of an adult's body to the clanking sounds of picks and shovels hitting each other, and the creaking wheels echoing on the trail.
The path stretched out, full of gravel mixed with sand, with every step they took making a lively sound beneath their feet.
The ground occasionally trembled lightly as carts passed by, carrying a dense, dusty air.
On either side of the path, massive wooden beams supported the mine's ceiling, seemingly having withstood countless years but still standing firm.
Though it appeared to be a busy working area, there was an undeniable sense of mystery, as though each wall and beam held its own hidden story.
Ren glanced at the road ahead, his sharp eyes scanning the dim corners of the darkness, trying to keep his pace steady.
A quiet sense of tension spread through the air; even though this was their first time in the mine, Ren couldn't ignore the thoughts of potential dangers lurking.
"We should continue discussing the attack patterns and weaknesses of the Kobold miners and Cave Bats," Ren began, his voice low and slow, as if intentionally keeping the atmosphere from becoming too heavy.
He turned his head, his eyes briefly glancing at Yuna and Nautilus. "The Kobold miners, small but quite agile.
They usually attack using crude weapons like axes or pickaxes.
Their speed is decent, but their defense is pretty weak.
If we strike at vulnerable points like the neck or the back, they'll go down easily.
But don't underestimate them, since this is the first time we'll be facing monsters with weapons. Their attacks won't be easy to predict."
Yuna nodded, listening attentively. Nautilus also seemed to be thinking carefully.
"And the Cave Bats..." Ren continued, his voice lowering slightly, "They move very quickly in the dark, and can stun you if attacked from above.
However, they're very easy to defeat if you target their wings or soft spots. If they fall, they lose their agility, and that's when we finish them off."
Ren paused for a moment, his eyes focused on the road ahead as if looking for any signs.
"We need to be careful with the Bats. They can come from any direction before we even realize it."